About 25% of our Bible is dedicated to the historic chronology. A proper chronology is established by joining together four divisions of time given in the Bible. The divisions of time are as follows:
1. From Adam’s creation to the covenant with Abraham.
2. From Abraham’s covenant to the construction of Solomon’s Temple
3. From the fourth year of Solomon (when he began building the Temple) to the eleventh year of Zedekiah (when the Temple was destroyed).
4. From the year 587 B.C. when the Temple was destroyed to the present.
1. From Adam’s creation to the covenant with Abraham
Adam (130), Seth (105), Enosh (90), Kenan (70), Mahalalel (65), Jared (162),
Enoch (65), Methuselah (187), Lamech (182), Noah (502), Shem (100),
Arpachshad (35), Shelah (30), Eber (34), Peleg (30), Reu (32), Serug (30),
Nahor (29), Terah (70), Abraham (~80) Abraham’s age when God made the Covenant with him.
Total Years = 2028
2. From Abraham’s covenant to the construction of Solomon’s Temple
This time period is found in two parts. First, there are 430 years between the Abrahamic covenant and the Exodus. Second, there are 480 years between the Exodus and the start of construction on Solomon’s Temple.
Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ.
Gal 3:17 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect.
Gal 3:18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
1 Kings 6:1 Now it came about in the four hundred and eightieth year after the sons of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD.
Total Years = 910 years
3. From the fourth year of Solomon when he began building the Temple, to the eleventh year of Zedekiah when the Temple was destroyed
Here are the Kings of Judah and the number of years they ruled starting when Solomon began building the Temple, in his 4th year, and ending when the Temple was destroyed in 587 BC. NOTE: these are only the Kings of Judah not Israel.
1. Solomon, 36 years (from his 4th year).
2. Rehoboam, 17 years.
3. Abijah, 3 years.
4. Asa, 41 years.
5. Jehoshaphat, 25 years.
6. Jehoram, 8 years.
7. Ahaziah, 1 year.
8. Athaliah, 7 years (Queen).
9. Joash, 40 years.
10. Amaziah, 29 years.
11. Uzziah, 52 years.
12. Jotham, 16 years.
13. Ahaz, 16 years.
14. Hezekiah, 29 years.
15. Manasseh, 55 years.
16. Amon, 2 years.
17. Josiah, 31 years.
18. Jehoahaz, 0.25 years.
19. Jehoiakim, 11 years.
20. Jehoiachin, 0.25 years.
21. Zedekiah, 11 years (ending in 587 B.C.).
TOTAL = 430.5 years (before adjusting for overlapping years).
Using the total of these years, all of which are recorded in the Bible, we have a total of 430.5 years. However, the Jews counted the year the old King died as the first year of the new King; we know this by comparing the record of the Kings of Judah to the record of the Kings of Israel. The reigns of Jehoahaz and Jehoiachin did not overlap the reign of another King because they only ruled for 3 months each. Taking the total number of years the Kings ruled and allowing for the overlap between each King, except Jehoahaz and Jehoiachin, the total overlap is 18 years (430.5 - 18 = 412.5 years).
From the fourth year of Solomon to the destruction of the Temple in 587 BC is 413.
Total Years = 413 years
4. From 587 B.C., when the Temple was destroyed, to the present Age
This is easy (587 + 2012 = 2599 years)
Total Years = 2599 years in division #4
Total Years = 413 years in division #3
Total Years = 910 years in division #2
Total Years = 2028 years in division #1
Grand Total = 5950 from creation to our present time.
This means there are about 50 years remaining until the end of the sixth Millennium. We are at the beginning of the last Jubilee of years which corresponds to the many prophecies stating Jesus would appear at the last Jubilee. This indicates to me that the Rapture of the Bride is extremely close.
YBIC … Oliver Thomas